Photos by Frank Rocco Satullo, The OhioTraveler
A Tale of Two Cities meets Mt. Adams, Ohio.
From sinners to saints, this historic neighborhood in Cincinnati has quite a reputation, and two starkly different neighbors: The grisly history of a speakeasy and the church of the steps.
Sinners first…
This tale is straight from the back of the menu at The Mt Adams Bar & Grill:
The Mt Adams Bar & Grill backbar reputedly came out of a speakeasy owned by the infamous Cincinnati bootlegger, George Remus. Speakeasys were illegal bars operated during the Prohibition of alcohol decreed in 1919 by the 18th Amendment to our Constitution. Remus, a Chicago criminal attorney, moved to Cincinnati and bought a distillery to produce legally bonded whiskey for medicinal purposes by prescription only. Not surprisingly, a great deal of Remus’ whiskey found its way into speakeasys. At the height of his success, he employed 3,000 people and paid $20,000,000 in bribes to local police and officials. His success brought him $45,000,000 in profits and the unwelcome attention of federal agents. Scheduled for trial, he gave his diamond collection to his wife. For unknown reasons, she promptly filed for divorce, but in a diabolical twist, just two hours before the trial was scheduled to begin, Remus tracked her down in Eden Park and killed her. He pled guilty due to insanity, spent three months in a state mental hospital, after which he was found sane and released. Click here to read more about the fascinating history and present-day Mt Adams Bar & Grill.
And now for the saints…
The Pilgrimages to the “Church of the Steps” at Holy Cross Immaculata Church began their ascent in 1859.
The famous steps of Mt. Adams have a powerful lure for locals and international visitors. What started as a Catholic tradition now includes the faithful the world over. Take a step, put a new bead of the Rosary between your finger and thumb, and repeat. Or say your own set of prayers, adding a new one for each new step. Some just come to meditate on each step as they take an inward journey of their own. Eighty-five prayers later, you reach the summit of the steep climb and the base of the Roman Catholic Immaculata Church, its steeple stretching skyward. Turn around, and a sprawling heavenly view reveals the skyline and majestic river of the “Queen City” – Cincinnati – in an eye-popping panoramic scene from high above. Click here to read more about the interesting history and present-day “Church of the Steps.
By Frank Rocco Satullo, The OhioTraveler, Your Tour Guide to Fun
